‘Little Shop of Horrors’

June 7, 2013

A nerd who works in the flower shop and hopes to become more than this, a beautiful young woman who dreams of a better life, an Elvis-clad, sadomasochistic dentist who lives to give pain and song to his patients, and a man-eating plant named Audrey II who simply wants to be fed are the stars of "Little Shop of Horrors." The Orpheum invites you to attend its showing of Frank Oz's classic film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.

We meet Seymour (Rick Moranis), a young nerdling who works in the flower shop, struggles to make ends meet and longs for the love of his life, Audrey, to notice him for the man he is. Seymour adopts a strange and fascinating plant from a street vendor, takes the plant home, names "her" Audrey II and begins to love and nurture his beloved plant. Meanwhile, the real Audrey (Ellen Greene) is also dreaming of a better life while she is stuck in a dead-end job and a dead-end relationship with her abusive boyfriend, Dr. Orin Scrivello. Dr. Scrivello (Steve Martin) is our pain-inducing, Elvis-impersonating, motorcycle-riding dentist, who stands in the way of Seymour and Audrey finding true love and happiness. Seymour, with the help of a now-grown Audrey II, must confront his darkest fears and challenge the world that has led him to believe he shouldn't or couldn't dream of something more.

Filled with absolutely brilliant performances by Steve Martin and Rick Moranis and the always outstanding music of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, "Little Shop of Horrors" is quite simply one of the very best film adaptations of a Broadway musical ever.

Show times are 7 p.m. on Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Visit the theater for tours and check out the gallery and exhibit hall that features Iowa stage and film memorabilia and information. Call the Orpheum Theater Center movie hotline at 641-844-5907 or visit www.orpheumcenter.com

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Laura Armstrong is an associate professor of English at Iowa Valley Grinnell.